'Willing to Participate': Redlands East Valley Celebrates Class of 2026
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National Honor Society Ava Barbosa is awarded her diploma.
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
REDLANDS — On June 3, nearly 400 seniors graduated from Redlands East Valley High School having contributed to a legacy first: In 2026, their alma mater was named a California Distinguished School for the first time in its history.
“As you leave Redlands East Valley High School, and begin your next chapter, whether that’s college, work, the military, travel, discovering a new path, you join generations of REV graduates who’ve gone on to strengthen their communities and shape the world around them,” said Principal Shana Kamper. “Carry forth the values you learned here at REV, and that you built here; and remember that a meaningful life is not measured only by the achievements or recognition, but by the way we treat people around us. It’s reflected in the kindness we extend every day, the resilience we show in challenges, and the encouragement we offer to others.”
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Megan Jonasson delivers a commencement address.
She implored, “Class of 2026: Make wise choices, and go show the world the positive influence that one REV graduate can have.”
Senior class speaker Megan Jonasson reminisced about how streamed music by favorite artists and certain Spotify tunes were integral to getting her through school.
She told her peers, “If there’s one thing I hope you can carry with you beyond today, it is this: Let your life have a soundtrack. Embrace art, embrace music, embrace theater, embrace stories — because art is how we make sense of the world around us. Stories teach us empathy, how to step into someone else’s world,” and music provides the background to memories. “One day I’m sure you’ll hear a song, and instantly be transported back to a late-night drive with your friends, your senior prom, the last time you walked into that class with your peers, or maybe a moment you didn’t even realize was the ‘last time,’” she said, using her fingers to outline air quotes.
“I hope we don’t just chase success,” Jonasson said. “I hope we chase meaning, and love and creativity … I hope we don’t forget ourselves, and our values.”
She cited inspiration from several musicians and invoked Taylor Swift’s commencement speech to NYU, noting that Swift pointed out, “The scary news is, you’re on your own now. But the cool news is, you’re on your own now!”
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Commencement speaker Andrew Hoch holds up a photo of his son.
Chemistry and environmental science teacher Andrew Hoch unrolled a large printout of his 6-year-old son, Bennett, and explained that “in a short amount of time, he will be where you are.” Looking down at his banner, he said, “And this will be the version I see of him. And to parents, this is the version you are seeing right now. You still see that little kid asking endless questions; trying things without worrying whether or not he’d immediately succeed; and I honestly think most of us adults wished time would slow down just a little bit during those years. They disappear very fast.”
He noted that “kids don’t immediately care if they’re good at something. They just participate. But somewhere along that line, as you get older, things change.”
He told them, “You don’t need to feel perfectly confident before becoming somebody meaningful. You simply need to be willing to participate.”
He encouraged them to try new things and to keep trying, and reminded them that not everything they’ve seen or heard was likely made perfectly the first time around; that most of the time the world does not witness all the trials and attempts that may have been awkward or unsuccessful along the way.
“Your generation grows up under the pressure to make everything look amazing immediately,” he admonished. “Every hobby has to become content. Every talent has to become profitable; and if it’s not instantly impressive, people think it failed … Failures are going to produce valuable data. You learn something. You adjust, and you’re growing. I can promise you, though, doing nothing, produces nothing. No stories, no growth, no momentum.”
“I hope you take chances on yourself. Apply for that scholarship, take the interview; say yes to any opportunity that comes your way, because I assure you, that you are more capable than you think you are,” he said.